Ben Radford and three invited guests (David Koepsell, Robert Blaskiewicz, and Celestia Ward) offer their takes on the topic: Does a 'national conversation' exist, and if so, what is its nature? First in a series.

Too often we are embarrassed to admit that we don't understand what we are told. Asking for clarification not only helps both the speaker and listener communicate more effectively, but is also a powerful tool in skepticism and critical thinking.